IAEA chief warns seizing Iran's enriched uranium 'very challenging'

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Rafael Grossi tells CBS News the 60% enriched uranium hexafluoride stockpile is extraordinarily difficult to handle, move, or secure — casting doubt on reported US-Israel special forces scenarios

By TRH News Desk

New Delhi, March 23, 2026 — IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told CBS News’ Face the Nation Sunday that any military operation to seize Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium would face formidable technical and logistical obstacles, tempering speculation about reported US and Israeli contingency planning.

Speaking with anchor Margaret Brennan, Grossi noted that Iran’s 60% enriched uranium hexafluoride — stored in cylinders at underground facilities including Isfahan — presents extreme handling challenges due to its chemical toxicity and radioactive properties. “It’s very difficult to handle,” he said, adding that even during diplomatic negotiations, inspectors had discussed “downblending” the material precisely because of those difficulties.

Grossi also flagged that any extraction attempt would likely be complicated by decoy cylinders and misdirection measures at the sites.

“You’re (talking about) uranium hexafluoride at 60%… it’s very difficult to handle… I’m not saying it’s impossible. I know that here there are incredible military capacities to do that, but it would be a very challenging operation,” he said.

While he stopped short of calling such an operation impossible — acknowledging “incredible military capacities” — he characterized it as “a very challenging operation for sure.”

The remarks come as US President Trump and Israeli officials have publicly raised the option of deploying special forces to secure or remove enriched material as part of broader pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program.